His mother had been educated by jesuits, while his father later died in the Second World War in 1945 on the Eastern front.
He completed his Jesuit studies in philosophy at did academic work in several universities.
His first major media assignment as a Jesuit was with the German state broadcast network ZDF As of 1982 he was working at Radio Vatican.
[6] He also criticized Pope Benedict's handling of the Richard Williamson affair and suggested that the pontiff might resign.
[7] After a heart attack in 2007, he worked with German visitors of Vatican Radio and later withdrew in Germany.